- 14,808
It also transcribes voice mail to text which is fantastic when I'm in somewhere that's a bit loud. And by the way, I have one invite left if anyone needs it.
Setting Up a Home Office
- Thread starter GAHEALTH
- Start date
- 7,066
That makes sense. I was having trouble figuring that one out. Most of my clients still stick their finger in the hole and turn the wheel.
- 5,058
lol....that's funny.
If no one else has asked, I would like it. What do I need to do?
- 14,808
I need your email.
Here's my advice.... This is a VERY minor thing in the scope of being in business. Phones are very important, but for the most part, they are a commodity product. Make sure you have good voice quality, and if there is something else that is important to how you do business, then cover that as well.
Don't worry that you might spend $50 a month when you could have gotten by with $30. You're time should be to valuable to be overly concerned about minor issues such as this, for what is probably the most important investment you will make in your business.
Controlling expenses is a high priority, but don't get so caught up in little stuff that you don't make any money. To me, the issue is if you want a dialer for $150 a month (or whatever price you choose), make sure you have a plan on how it will earn it's keep. A dialer is an optional investment, a phone line is a critical investment.
Keep focused on what you want to accomplish, don't get to caught up in details on how to accomplish it when the method is easy. I know, I fall into this trap all the time, I like to fix things, even when they aren't broke
Dan
- Thread starter
- #17
- 299
Here's my advice.... This is a VERY minor thing in the scope of being in business. Phones are very important, but for the most part, they are a commodity product. Make sure you have good voice quality, and if there is something else that is important to how you do business, then cover that as well.
Don't worry that you might spend $50 a month when you could have gotten by with $30. You're time should be to valuable to be overly concerned about minor issues such as this, for what is probably the most important investment you will make in your business.
Controlling expenses is a high priority, but don't get so caught up in little stuff that you don't make any money. To me, the issue is if you want a dialer for $150 a month (or whatever price you choose), make sure you have a plan on how it will earn it's keep. A dialer is an optional investment, a phone line is a critical investment.
Keep focused on what you want to accomplish, don't get to caught up in details on how to accomplish it when the method is easy. I know, I fall into this trap all the time, I like to fix things, even when they aren't broke
Dan
Thanks for the advice. I use Vonage for the home line - but sometimes when the Internet goes out ...well it is back to cell service with not great reception where I live.
Dan makes a very important point. I have a land line with a wired headset as well as a wireless headset. Most of the time I use the wired set but on occasion, if I am expecting a call, I will leave the office and go to the wireless set.
My LD carrier was a flat rate but I switched to $0.027/minute since it was cheaper. I don't get clicks, hisses or disconnects like you can get with VOIP or other internet services.
One nice thing about the old fashioned set up is the phone works, including long distance, even when the power is out. Unlike Frank, I do have touch tone phones.
I don't use call forwarding but do have caller ID and voice mail that can be retrieved anywhere. Clients and prospects alike know I return calls on a timely basis. If they don't leave a message I figure it wasn't that important.
Most calls can wait on a return but I do miss some business from time to time because I was unable to answer on the spot.
I never interrupt a phone call with anyone to take another call. That is the way I have always done it and I believe my clients appreciate that.
Nothing is so important it can't wait.
When I am on the phone with a prospect or client they have my undivided attention and, as long as my internet hasn't been zapped, I am able to give them an answer on the spot most of the time.
I have a laptop but rarely take it out of the house. If I take a trip out of town it goes with me for checking email, etc. but other than that it is in the den near the TV or I take it to the sun room so I avoid that pasty look from spending too much time in my cave.
My LD carrier was a flat rate but I switched to $0.027/minute since it was cheaper. I don't get clicks, hisses or disconnects like you can get with VOIP or other internet services.
One nice thing about the old fashioned set up is the phone works, including long distance, even when the power is out. Unlike Frank, I do have touch tone phones.
I don't use call forwarding but do have caller ID and voice mail that can be retrieved anywhere. Clients and prospects alike know I return calls on a timely basis. If they don't leave a message I figure it wasn't that important.
Most calls can wait on a return but I do miss some business from time to time because I was unable to answer on the spot.
I never interrupt a phone call with anyone to take another call. That is the way I have always done it and I believe my clients appreciate that.
Nothing is so important it can't wait.
When I am on the phone with a prospect or client they have my undivided attention and, as long as my internet hasn't been zapped, I am able to give them an answer on the spot most of the time.
I have a laptop but rarely take it out of the house. If I take a trip out of town it goes with me for checking email, etc. but other than that it is in the den near the TV or I take it to the sun room so I avoid that pasty look from spending too much time in my cave.
I use my home phone for telemarketing if I'm in my home office. I use a MOJO dialer, and it let's you display a different number on their caller I.D, this way nobody can get me home phone number. When I reach person on the phone, if it's my local area code, it displays my MagicJack number; if its out of my area code it displays my toll free which is through RingCentral. If the person wants to call the number back, it won't interfere with my cold-calling on my home phone. I HAVE NEVER SOLD ANYTHING TO A PERSON WHO HAS CALLED ME BACK BECAUSE OF THEIR CALLER I.D.(They are just curious about who called and that's it) They can leave a message!! Life's too short.
Here's another tip. Buy everything you need on Ebay. I saved tons of money on my laptop, my fax machine, portable and rechargeable printer, a document scanner, magnets for business cards, and I buy ALL of my ink on Ebay. I bought everything except my laptop used, and it all works just like new. I you buy new equipment, it is used anyway after you start using it. Save the money upfront.
Magicjack,Vonage, Skype, etc., are too sporadic to use full time in my business.
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- 7,790
Frank, I heard that most of your clients don't even have a dial telephone. Thay have that crank on the side of the phone and after they crank it up thay tell Myrtle, the operator, that they wish to speak to Frank Stastny.
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